Chain Beverage Buzz: Oct. 31, 2011

Mark Breene has been named as the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Rémy Cointreau USA, Inc. As part of the executive management team, Breene will lead the marketing and branding efforts of the heritage brands portfolio in the super-premium category; seven vice presidents overseeing national marketing, sales and brand intelligence will report directly to Breene.

Michael A. Nahkunst was appointed as the permanent President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kona Grill. Nahkunst was serving as Kona's interim President and CEO since June.

Darden Restaurants, Inc., acquired Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Wildfish Seafood Grille & Steaks, two small seafood chains. Both chains will become a part of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group, which includes The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. Eddie V’s owns and operates eight Eddie V’s Prime Seafood restaurants, as well as three Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurants in Arizona, California and Texas.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar management recently launched its “Thank You Movement,” an ongoing initiative to collect millions of thanks for the U.S. Veterans and Active Duty military via www.thankyoumovement.com, Applebee's Facebook Fan Page, #thankyoumovement on Twitter and on YouTube. Veterans and active duty troops can go online to see and hear the thanks of the people they serve.

Executives at The Melting Pot Restaurants are partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the eighth annual Thanks and Giving campaign from Oct. 29 to Dec. 31. The campaign asks guests to raise funds for cancer research. Every check presented to guests will include a line for them make a donation to St. Jude; donations can be made on The Melting Pot’s website here.